One of the most important forms of classical music is without a doubt the sonata. The meaning of the term “sonata”, which is derived from the Italian word “sonare” which means “to sound” or “to play”, has changed considerably over time. Browse our sheet music and scores, grab your all your favourites, and find out more about the sonata here today!
The term “sonata” derives from the second half of the 16th century, and refers to different types of instrumental compositions for two or more instruments. The term came about to distinguish the sonata from solo pieces for keyboard instruments, and from pieces with singing, such as cantatas.
The main difference between the baroque sonata and the classical sonata is the number of movements, the baroque sonata has at least four or more, in which slow and fast tempos alternate regularly. The baroque sonata is divided into two basic types:
Sonata da camera (“Chamber Sonata”) – which has a light dance character and is the predecessor of the baroque dance suite.
Sonata da chiesa (“Church sonata”) – which is usually in four movements and has a more serious character.
Depending on the size of the line-up, Baroque sonatas can be further subdivided into Solo Sonata for one instrument (usually violin) and basso continuo, and Trio Sonata for two solo instruments and basso continuo.
One of the most well-known composers of the Baroque sonata is the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Both the Church Sonatas by Corelli and the Chamber Sonatas by Corelli are still very popular with instrumentalists and listeners today.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the sonata da chiesa gradually evolved into what is known as the Neapolitan overture, where the introductory slow movement has been removed. The result was a three-movement form, with the tempo structure fast-slow-fast within each movement, which became the model not only for the classical sonata, but also for many other musical forms.
The Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) contributed a great deal to the development of the sonata. The Sonatas by Scarlatti were usually composed in the traditional sonata form, a one-movement work with two contrasting themes.
During the Classical period, the sonata continued to develop and evolve. At that time, the term “sonata” was mainly understood to mean Piano Sonatas, or sonatas for another solo instrument with piano accompaniment. In its basic form, a classical sonata consists of three, or occasionally four movements, where the first fast movement is written in ’sonata form’, the second movement is slower, and the third movement is usually fast again, and can take various forms.
In a four-movement sonata, a dance movement in the form of a minuet or a scherzo is usually inserted before the last movement. The greatest exponents of the sonata were arguably three composers of the first Viennese school, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " 1972" text="Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s most famous sonata is without a doubt the Moonlight Sonata.
Sonate Nr. 3 für Orgel
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 666046
for: Organ
Item no.: 201971
1726 edition
L’Art de la Flûte Traversière, 14
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 427813
for: Treble recorder
Playback-CD (without sheet music)
Item no.: 179081
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 425063
from op. 5
for: Treble recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 741999
from "Méthode de Clarinette"
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 735672
for: Treble recorder
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 301847
Sonatas 1–12
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 460669
for: 3 flutes (trio)
3 Performance scores
Item no.: 419200
Six Sonatas by Barsanti, Bitti, Marcello, Vivaldi, Mancini und Veracini
Hortus Musicus
for: Treble recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (anthology)
Item no.: 122199
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, cello (double bass) [string orchestra], basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 122163
from op. 40
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 754273
for: Organ
Item no.: 371803
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano score, solo parts (C/B-flat)
Item no.: 642305
Edited from the sources
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 491373
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696693
Wiener Urtext Edition
for: Piano
4 music scores
Item no.: 616699
for Alto Recorder and Basso Continuo (c. 1714)
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 192451
for: 2 pianos
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 359769
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696015
for: Piano
Item no.: 288098
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 393368
transcribed for two Clarinets
Revue pour la Clarinette
for: 2 clarinets
Ensemble score
Item no.: 113774
for: Viola d'amore, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 112899
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401337
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 661703
Nach Autographen und Erstausgaben
Band 2 (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125029
with marked and unmarked string parts
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613313
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 669625
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 628023
for: Violoncello (Viola, Flöte) und Gitarre
Partitur
Item no.: 137131
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 141937
for: Bass trombone, piano
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 636037
for: Cello, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 631104
(Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 284887
for: Clarinet, piano
Item no.: 131406
for: Trumpet, 2 violins, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 770619
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 282751
for: Sopran-Blockflöte (Flöte/Oboe/Violine) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 314195
for: Cello [viola], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 649837
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 1162508
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 696005
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1479716
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 590144
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 353962
The Finest Sonatas & Suites
for: 2 treble recorders (duet)
Ensemble score (anthology)
Item no.: 621667
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwide
stay on Stretta Music Denmark
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
